A singer with the THS Jazz Band, The Highlighters, on the first Thursday morning of the month Angel boarded a bus and headed to the birthplace of Jazz, New Orleans.
“I never thought I would actually sing for anything outside of choir. My grandfather loves Jazz, though, so I’ve always listened to that type of music,” Angel said.
But she did audition for, and made, the jazz band.
The Highlighters were honored to perform at this year’s Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans with amazing trombonist Tom “Bones” Malone of Blues Brothers and Late Show with David Letterman fame.
“I was nervous. I was shaking, because I didn’t want to go up there with all the people who know the music and disappoint, but I had a lot of fun,” Angel said. “I’m glad the lights were bright and I couldn’t see all the people out there, because my heart was racing.”
Then, she was literally racing. Angel hailed an Uber, and before she knew it, this high school senior was in an airport for the first time in her life.
“I figured out how to get through security on my own, and then went to the wrong flight, because I went to a flight leaving for Houston earlier than mine. They were so nice, though. The gate agent ripped my ticket, printed me out a new one and put me on that earlier flight.”
Soon, Angel landed back in Austin, and it was time to switch gears, because Saturday was the All-State Choir auditions.
Last year, she made it to the audition, but didn’t make the choir. This year, she leaned on Choir Director Cameron Roucloux and Assistant Director Sam Davis to put her over the top.
“[Davis] was a four year all-stater, so he knows the different between being close and being in the all-state choir,” Roucloux said.
Angel was prepared, but that didn’t calm her nerves. Warming up with her section, she was shaking. Then it was time for the audition. She walked into a room, stood in front of a black curtain (with judges seated behind it), waited for her accompanying music to start, and then she sang.
“I know I could have done much better,” Angel said. “I was nervous and my breathing wasn’t where it was supposed to be. I know I could have done much better.”
Despite Angel’s self-assessment, the judges were pleased. She was selected as a member of the All-State Treble Choir.
“I cried a little bit,” She said. “When they did call my name, I didn’t breathe for the rest of the names called. I just covered my face.”
“It’s a remarkable testament to talent and dedication because it’s the highest vocal honor that one can reach,” Davis said. “Over ten thousand students enter the process statewide and by the end only a few hundred make the all-state choir.”
In fact, simply making it to the all-state audition is an accomplishment.
“Our area goes from Pflugerville to Highland Park to Lufkin, so Angel auditioned against the best students from 6A and 5A districts in the area, and she is one of the top eight altos, so it’s incredible,” Roucloux said.
As a member of the all-state choir, Angel performed at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference on Saturday, February 11 in San Antonio. She was one of only three students with a solo in “Heaven Bound Train.”
Angel plans to continue her pursuit of music well beyond high school, going to college for a vocal performance degree, then onto a career as a professional singer and choir teacher.
Singing her way to the top: Temple High senior makes All-State Choir
The first weekend in January was a busy time for Temple High School senior, Angel Tolbert.After traveling to New Orleans with the jazz band and performing at the eighth annual Jazz Education Network conference, Tolbert immediately flew back to Texas to participate in auditions for Texas All-State Choir the next day.